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dr found a tumor on my thyroid. now he says lets wait a year. is this a normal approach?

By January 17, 2011 - 11:50am
 
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I had a MRI for headaches that I have been having that just don`t go away. They found a tumor that is 2.7cm x 2.3cm x 1.? cm , they did a fine needle biopsy and the result was found to be inconclusive. (I supose that means that they don`t know) and now the dr says to wait a year. I asked him at that time what about what you said to take it out? He just blew me off. I am so mad and frusterated. In our initial visit he told me that its cancer. there is nothing smooth or round about it. you have 3 choices, 1 take it out., 2 take it out and do RAI treatment.,
3 wait? what is that supose to mean.

Add a Comment16 Comments

Thank you all so much for your thoughts. It is indeed stressful to wait.
I am feeling so sick lately. I am sure it is from the stress. It seems that
I have had a hard time with getting the proper treatment many times through out my life. Somedays I want to just give up and quit caring.
This is such a horrable way to feel. Life is way to short to have to put up with this kind of treatment over and over again.
I plan to day to check out my insurance website and see if I can find a dr. who is more experienced in handling this type of cancer.

February 16, 2011 - 9:34am
(reply to onesickcookie)

That sounds very proactive, please update us regarding any information you find from your insurance!

February 17, 2011 - 10:04am
(reply to Alison Beaver)

I went to to the doctor on march 22 because I have had anxiety and a rash on my neck for months and wanted a pill to make it go away. The doctor found a nodule on my thyroid and ordered an ultrasound and sent me to a surgeon. The ultrasound showed two nodules and then the surgeon ordered a ultrasound guided needle biopsy. It was awful but the result was benign. They also thought it looked like one nodule not two. My surgeon gave me a choice.. Surgery to remove half my thyroid or take meds and watch it. I choose surgery because I understand if you have one nodule and you thyroid is functioning normally it could become cancerous at later date. On April 25 I had my surgery. They ran my thyroid to pathology and it came back clean so he stitched
E up. One week later I went in for my post surgery appointment and the surgeon told me they kept testing my thyroid and they found cancer. I came home from the hospital today after having the rest of my thyroid removed. Now I'm waiting for the iodine treatments.I hope I am done with this whole thing by the middle of June. I wonder how the heck did I get this? Is it from the dentist office (x-rays) or downwinders. I grew up in southern Utah.

May 17, 2011 - 7:02pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I agree with the others that indicate find a doctor that will allow you to participate in and control your care. Even though Thyroid Cancer is indicated as slow growing, I would not want to wait. Honestly, mine was found quite by accident. My PCP referred me to another ENT for a 2nd opinion for vertigo, lightheaded and disequilibrium in my right ear. He was my gift from God as he discovered my nodule 11/30/10. Within 8 days, I had an appointment for an ultrasound guided FNA which, like yours was deemed "inconclusive"; yet suspicious. I had a right hemithyroidectomy on 1/26/11 which was positive for cancer and subsequently a completion thryoidectomy on 2/9/11. Needless to say, my physician was aggressive in the handling which has helped me rest easier. I have a tough time with watchful waiting recommendations as they are so stressful and worrisome on you as the patient. You need to be comfortable with the action plan. It is your life, your mind, your body.

February 14, 2011 - 7:17pm
Blogger

Get a biopsy done. If your doctor doesn't want to do it, find one that will. It is for your well being to know. Whether they are going to wait see if it grows or not, you will know what you are dealing with. Fortunately, thyroid cancer is a slow growing cancer, giving you time to decide on your options.

February 11, 2011 - 12:02pm

I went and got a second opinion and he also said to wait 6 mos. to a year. That they are not too concerned until it reaches 4 cm.
How good for them its not in their body. I wonder what the cancer centers would say about this. It is so stressful to not even know if it is cancer or not. Is there a blood test?

February 11, 2011 - 9:55am
(reply to onesickcookie)

You can get a biopsy done. With aid of an ultrasound machine, they will stick a needle in your neck and take a sample, and see if there is cancer present. After the surgery, they have a cancer marker test they do, but I don't know if you can have it done before hand. Ask for a biopsy?

February 11, 2011 - 11:20am
Blogger

Did you require any radioactive treatments? If so did you have any side effects?

February 10, 2011 - 1:11pm
(reply to springs)

I passed on the treatments. The doctors said that it wasn't necessary. I, at the time, couldn't swallow pills very well, and the doctor couldn't order a liquid version at the time, so we just skipped it and opted for monitoring my blood and hormone levels for any sign of growth, (monthly thyroid-tracker blood tests for the first year, then every six months every year following.)
No returning cancer yet.

February 10, 2011 - 3:29pm

I don't know if it is 'normal', but when they found my lumps, with my huge family history of thyroid cancer, they still made me wait around 7 months for surgery. The endocrinologist said the it wasn't a big deal, because thyroid cancer grows slow, and is.. what did he say.... oh! "the Cadillac of cancers"...
>.<

it's not right.

February 9, 2011 - 11:06pm
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